brea

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Breached p. pr. & vb. n. Breaching. ] To make a breach or opening in; as, to breach the walls of a city. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. bræk, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See Break, and cf. Brake (the instrument), Brack a break ] . 1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture. [ 1913 Webster ]

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. 2 Sam. v. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

A clear breach implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking. --
A clean breach implies that everything on deck is swept away. Ham. Nav. Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture. [ 1913 Webster ]

There's fallen between him and my lord
An unkind breach. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A bruise; a wound. [ 1913 Webster ]

Breach for breach, eye for eye. Lev. xxiv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A breaking out upon; an assault. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. 1. Chron. xiii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

Breach of falth, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust. --
Breach of peace, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace. --
Breach of privilege, an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee. Mozley. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

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Breach of promise, violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry. --
Breach of trust, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Apt to break fences or to break out of pasture; unruly; as, breachy cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ AS. brædan to make broad, to spread. See Broad, a. ] To spread. [ Obs. ] Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Cookery) To cover with bread crumbs, preparatory to cooking; as, breaded cutlets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. breád; akin to OFries. brād, OS. brōd, D. brood, G. brod, brot, Icel. brauð, Sw. & Dan. bröd. The root is probably that of E. brew. √93. See Brew. ] 1. An article of food made from flour or meal by moistening, kneading, and baking. [ 1913 Webster ]

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Raised bread is made with yeast, salt, and sometimes a little butter or lard, and is mixed with warm milk or water to form the dough, which, after kneading, is given time to rise before baking. --
Cream of tartar bread is raised by the action of an alkaline carbonate or bicarbonate (as saleratus or ammonium bicarbonate) and cream of tartar (acid tartrate of potassium) or some acid. --
Unleavened bread is usually mixed with water and salt only. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aërated bread. See under Aërated.
Bread and butter (fig.), means of living. --
Brown bread,
Indian bread,
Graham bread,
Rye and Indian bread. See Brown bread, under Brown. --
Bread tree. See Breadfruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Food; sustenance; support of life, in general. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11 [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The stomach. [ Humorous ] S. Foote. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a container used to store breads or cake, to keep them fresh.
Syn. -- breadbox. [ WordNet 1.5 ]